The Mayflower Museum stands on The Barbican, Plymouth’s oldest quarter and the departure point of the Mayflower in 1620. Housed at 3-5 The Barbican, the museum tells the story of the Pilgrims who sailed from this historic waterfront to found Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. The building itself reflects the character of this medieval street, lined with Tudor and Jacobean structures that transport visitors back to the early 17th century.
Run by Plymouth City Council, the museum displays artefacts, documents and exhibits connected to the voyage and the lives of those who embarked. Visitors can explore the narrow lanes of the Barbican on foot, where cobbled streets, period houses and the nearby harbour evoke the atmosphere of the era. The museum’s location places it at the heart of Plymouth’s maritime heritage, within walking distance of the Hoe and other waterfront attractions that shaped the city’s naval history.